The Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, announced today the appointment of Fr. Richard Anthony D'Souza, S.J., as the new Director of the Vatican Observatory. He succeeds Br. Guy Consolmagno, S.J, whose mandate of 10 years will expire on September 19, 2025. With this appointment, Pope Leo XIV has confirmed the succession process that had been underway before the death of Pope Francis.
Stamps and coins of the Vatican City State now available
Das of today, the new platform www.cfn.va is online, dedicated to Philatelic and Numismatic activities.
Collectors and enthusiasts of philately and numismatics from all over the world can purchase the official products of the Vatican City State directly online, thanks to a completely renewed e-shop. The new platform has been designed to offer a modern, simple and accessible shopping experience to a global audience.
As part of the celebrations for the Jubilee Year 2025, the Governorate of Vatican City State and Hera Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch targeted initiatives for the sustainable management of waste produced within the Vatican territory, with a particular focus on plastic (PET) bottles.
56 Years Ago - Gazing at the Moon in Remembrance of the First Moon Landing
Around the world millions of viewers were glued to their televisions to watch the live broadcast of the moon landing of the Eagle lunar module from the Apollo 11 mission. About six hours later, Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. He was the first man to do so. Buzz Aldrin followed him 19 minutes later. It was July 20, 1969—a date that marked a major milestone in the history of humanity.
A Valuable Witness
On the morning of Tuesday, July 15, Pope Leo XIV visited the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception of the Poor Clares in the little town of Albano, located within the territory of the Papal Villas.
As part of AI for Good summit, and at the conclusion of the week organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) within the framework of the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025, the morning of July 11 featured a particularly significant event: the Ambassadors Roundtable, a high-level discussion platform that brought together ambassadors and permanent representatives from major international missions to the United Nations in Geneva. Among them was Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations Office and Specialized Agencies in Geneva.
The Governorate of the Vatican City State is pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached with a leading operator in the food retail sector.
A Celebration of Diversity and Welcome
It was a visit marked by friendship, affection, inclusion, and a sense of family when Pope Leo XIV met with the participants of the “Estate Ragazzi” [summer day camp for kids] program at the Vatican on the morning of Thursday, July 3, in the Paul VI Hall.
After expanding and upgrading its electric vehicle charging network, the Governorate has further advanced the “Ecological Conversion 2030” project, launched in line with the commitments made when the State of Vatican City acceded to the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Vatican City, July 2, 2025 – As part of the “Ecological Conversion 2030” project, launched by the Governorate following the commitments undertaken when the Vatican City State joined the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Governorate continues its strong commitment to more sustainable mobility.
